Chrysanthemum（菊花）

Connotation of Chrysanthemum in Chinese traditional Culture

Chrysanthemum, one of China's top ten traditional flowers, one of the four gentlemen in the flowers, and a hermit in the flower, is known as " Not afraid of frost, still in full bloom ". Chrysanthemums are not afraid of cold. They continue to bloom in the cold and frost season, symbolizing the spirit of perseverance.

Chrysanthemum, because of its Incomparable beauty, elegant posture, ascetic and fearless characters, is deeply favored by ancient and modern and ancient refined scholars.In the ancient age when poetry prevailed , many famous poems and sentences related to chrysanthemum were written.

Yuan Zhen, a poet of the Tang Dynasty(618-907), directly expressed his love for chrysanthemums in his chrysanthemum: “不是花中偏爱菊，此花开尽更无花。”.It means that I don't prefer chrysanthemums among the thousands of flowers, but because there are no more flowers to enjoy after the chrysanthemums bloom. In this way, we might as well have a deeper comprehension of the flower language of chrysanthemum through Chinese Ancient Poetry: noble and selfless, clean and reclusive, nostalgic and mournful.

Since ancient times, people have been drinking and eating chrysanthemums. Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet in the Warring States periods Warring States Period (475BC-221 BC), showed this in his works The Sadness of Separation(离骚）: "drinking the dew of Magnolia in the morning and eating the falling flowers of autumn chrysanthemums in the evening". In the Nine Songs, "the orchid in spring and the chrysanthemum in autumn will last forever". In spring, the orchid and the chrysanthemum are offered in autumn. Qu Yuan worshipped the gods with such noble flowers as orchid and chrysanthemum to express his devotion to God.

Zheng Sixiao, a patriotic poet and painter in the late Song Dynasty(1127-1279), lived in seclusion in Suzhou after the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty and never came out to be an official again. He was good at painting orchids. All the orchids painted after the fall of the Song Dynasty(960-1279) had no soil and roots, implying that they were reduced to a foreign race and could not take root. Powerful people asked him for orchid paintings. He said angrily, "My head can be broken, and orchids cannot be painted!" His poem "Chrysanthemum in the cold" was written after the demise of the Song Dynasty: You bloom in autumn, never with flowers. Stand alone by the sparse fence, your sentiment and interest are not poor. I'd rather die with fragrance on the branches than fall in the cold north wind.

It's better to die with fragrance on the branches than fall in the cold north wind. Chrysanthemums are used to metaphor that it's better to stick to the national integrity and die than succumb to the rule of Mongolia of Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368).

Chrysanthemum and Japan

Around the 8th century, chrysanthemum, as an ornamental flower, was introduced from China to Japan. It was deeply influenced by Chinese culture and copied the connotation of chrysanthemum given by China. Scholars appreciate chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemum wine makes people live longer and avoid evil spirits. Chrysanthemums are in full bloom and their pedicels do not fall, which represents moral integrity. Chrysanthemums can represent pining relatives and friends the distance and the deceased, the character of chrysanthemums, and so on.

In Japan, Chrysanthemum is the symbol of the royal family, with a variety of colors and different meanings. The yellow chrysanthemum means light love. The white chrysanthemum is generally used for mourning the dead in China. In Japan, it is a symbol of chastity and honesty. The dark red chrysanthemum is charming.

In ancient times, the Japanese had difficulties in childbirth and cultivation.The average life expectancy of the population was not long. Everyone had the expectation of family prosperity. The meaning of chrysanthemum and peony is that the petals are bright and numerous after budding, and have tenacious vitality after wind and frost. Chrysanthemum also symbolizes long-term and contains the meaning of having many children and grandchildren

Chrysanthemum and knife is a cultural anthropology work created by American cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict. It was first published in 1946“ " Chrysanthemum " is the symbol of the Japanese royal family, and "Knife" is the embodiment of the spirit of Japanese Bushido. Benedict uses these two words to express two contradictory characters of the Japanese: Belligerent and peaceful, militaristic and beautiful, arrogant and polite, rigid and fickle, docile and stubborn, loyal and rebellious, brave and cowardly, conservative and innovative.In the era of Japan's foreign aggression and expansion, chrysanthemum has also become a symbol of loyalty and patriotism, which can better let soldiers work for the royal family.

Even though chrysanthemum represents elegance and nobility, it also represents the warrior spirit, but it is also the "flower of death".

vedio chrysanthemum and Japan

Chrysanthemum and poem

  菊花 元稹

秋丛绕舍似陶家，遍绕篱边日渐斜。

不是花中偏爱菊，此花开尽更无花。

Chrysanthemums    Yuan Zhen

Around the cottage like Tao's autumn flowers grow;

Along the hedge I stroll until the sun slants low.

Not that I favor partially the chrysanthemum,

But it is the last flower after which none will bloom.

Tao mentioned in the poem was Tao Yuanming(陶渊明）. Tao Yuanming was a poet of the Eastern Jin Dynasty(317-420).He wrote the famous sentence "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing the Nanshan leisurely"(采菊东篱下，悠然见南山）. Everyone knows the name of his love for chrysanthemums, and chrysanthemums have gradually become a symbol of extraordinary seclusion.

Chrysanthemum and music

China's 5000 year history in the song Chrysanthemum Terrace

Chrysanthemum Terrace played by Erheen,Cello and band

Chrysanthemum Terrace Pipa and Cello Duet

Chrysanthemum Terrace played by Guqin

Chrysanthemum Terrace Mixed chorus

Song Chrysanthemums Terrace 《菊花台》

You tears glisten.Laced with pain. 你的泪光 柔弱中带伤

The crescent moon hangs in the past pale with sickness 惨白的月弯弯 勾住过往

Cool night too long turns to frost 夜太漫长 凝结成了霜

Who is on the tower frozen in despair 是谁在阁楼上冰冷的绝望

The rain drums lightly on a crimson pane 雨轻轻弹 朱红色的窗

My destiny is written on paper fluttering in the wind 我一生在纸上 被风吹乱

Distant dreams rise like incense 梦在远方 化成一缕香

Meliting into night is your image 随风飘散你的模样

Chrysanthemums fall weeping to the ground 菊花残 满地伤

Traces of your smile your heart now empty 你的笑容已泛黄 花落人断肠

My thoughts quitely rest the north wind blows 我心事静静淌 北风乱

Not yet dawn your shadow clear and close 夜未央 你的影子剪不断

Only companion of my soul on the lake a couple mirroned 徒留我孤单在湖面 成双

Blossoms of evening air beauty undimmed scatter everywhere 花已向晚 飘落了灿烂

A fate hard to swallow sadness do not cross the river 凋谢的世道上 命运不堪 愁莫渡江

Your antumn heart will sink 秋心拆两半

Drowning in longing you will not reach the other shore 怕你上不了岸 一辈子摇晃

Whose hills and rivers echo with the clamor of hooves 谁的江山 马蹄声狂乱

My armor is shredded by the dividing hour 我一身的戎装 呼啸沧桑

The sky slowly brightens 天微微亮

Your sighs slik soft weave a right of sorrow 你轻声的叹 一夜惆怅

So fragile so spare 如此委婉

Chrysanthemums fall weeping to the ground 菊花残 满地伤

Traces of your smile your heart now empty 你的笑容已泛黄 花落人断肠

My thoughts quitely rest the north wind blows 我心事静静淌 北风乱

Almost dawn your shadow so close 夜未央 你的影子剪不断

Only companion of my soul on the lake a couple reflected 徒留我孤单在湖面 成双

Chrysanthemums sight in the cool night air 菊花残 满地伤

Traces of your smile your heart now empty 你的笑容已泛黄 花落人断肠

My thoughts quietly rest the north wind blows 我心事静静淌 北风乱 夜未央

Almost dawn your shadow so close 你的影子剪不断

The only companion of my soul on the lake the two of us 徒留我孤单在湖面 成双

Chrysanthemum and dance

Dance Chrysanthemum Terrace

Chrysanthemum and Calligraphy

Calligraphy of Chrysanthemum style

Appreciation of calligraphy works about Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum and Traditional Chinese painting

Wrapped chrysanthemum tutorial

Chrysanthemum and life

Chrysanthemum Exhibition

Chrysanthemum feast

Making chrysanthemum tea